The perfect use for RR blocks...

On some round robins I would have an end purpose in mind for the blocks and by the time the round robin ended my vision would have changed.  Such is the case with these round robin blocks from several years back.  I had originally planned to use them with the lace cottage piece I was working on.  Then I used the lace cottage  as a cover on my CQJP book so I had six of these gorgeous blocks.   And I do mean gorgeous... This round robin was a"dream team" of stitchers -- Nicki Lee Seavey, Mary Beard Annette Graves, Fitzy Fitzpatrick, Claudia Skal and Rengin Yazitas.  I really wanted to use them for something special.....something where they would be seen and appreciated.

I've decided to make them into eyeglass cases.  First and most important  I wanted to preserve all the beautiful stitching.  When I made a pattern and put it on the blocks it couldn't have been a more perfect fit.

I may have to move a charm or two and remove a few seed beads on the seam line but other than that they will be fine.

What prompted this project is that I have been carry my magnifying glasses around in an ugly green plastic case or in an old velvet neck pouch that is too small. 

I also had a couple special people in my life that I wanted to give them something beautiful that would be used and appreciated.

These will fulfill that wish



This first one is still a work in progress and the clasp is not attached.  I had to remove a butterfly charm so I can  get the clasp on but after the clasp is secured I can reattach the charm.  I am not that happy with the  clasps I ordered and I will keep an eye out for some of a better quality for future use..

Last BoHo Bag

I meant to post about this bag in 2016 but it was a gift and then I forgot about putting it up... But I even had trouble finding any pictures this morning when I wanted to write about it....

One of my granddaughters had admired my BoHo bag   and I decided to make her one for her graduation in the spring of 2016.  Her favorite color at that time was purple and I wanted it to be fancy but still practical for someone her age.

I chose this pattern because of the extra side pockets but didn't pay that much attention to the shape of the handle and how it was attached.  First mistake.











Second mistake was my choice of materials...I wanted it to be opulent.  I had my heart set on several velvets and satin for the lining... right?  Slip and slide all the way and in addition I chose very heavy structural lace.  So bulk at the seams was a problem all the way also.  It all was so dark that it was hard to photograph.

This is the pocket on the backside.  The lace shows up better in this shot.

But as you can see from this inside shot that with all the bulk, the slippery fabrics, and the curved design of the handle it was definitely a challenge... 

But it was pretty spectacular when finished...most definitely one of a kind.  I might make this bag pattern  again but I would take it to a leather shop and have a leather handle made and sewn on there.

Now for my spider bag I have chosen this pattern called "Quattro bag" and it is readily available on line.I ordered it this morning.    It has similar side pockets but you can see how differently the handles are attached.

This will adapt itself very nicely to BoHo crazy quilting...  The bag itself will be black and embellished in color... I have tons of wonderful black stuff left from the suffragette quilt and I hope to make a dent in that stash.

Also I'm hoping I remember the lessons from the previous bag.

It started all down but ended on an upnote.

Lucy and I were pretty much on the same page today.  DH is out of town and I had planned to spend the entire day, if necessary, getting my old computer to work with my new printer.  The old computer has all my beloved photo editing software, type libraries, and Pagemaker.... all these programs are obsolete and not compatible with the 62 bit new computer.  I use them all the time. ..way more than I use the new computer. There was just no way the old computer was going to interact with either the printer or my router.

After moving the couch and spending hours crawling around with cables I finally realized it was never going to work and not only that, if I persisted I would run the risk of my old system crashing.. After getting the dreaded blue screen twice I became paranoid about losing the computer with Windows XP.

What prompted this endeavor is the old printer just chews up card stock and ruins more sheets than I can print for my button cards..  After I gave up I found a tutorial on this very problem by a HP technician and the solution is "rubber rejuvenator".  You spray it on a sheet of paper, run it through your printer several times and it cleans and rejuvenates your printer's roller...  I ordered a can from good old Amazon.  So if you are having printer problems, give this a try.  I will report when it comes.

Of course I could scan a sheet and take it to Office Depot and have them print it but that is a pretty pricy option in the long run.  So I will give this a try.  But as the day went on I thought how devastated I would be to lose all that antiquated but loved software and could I even buy Window XP anymore?

Well it turns out I can buy a new computer with the old XP operating system.  Actually it is a refurbished computer but at least I would have a backup as they might disappear soon also.   It was not expensive considering the peace of mind... So unlike Lucy I ended a day with a smile instead of a frown... and determined to get every thing backed up on thumb drives.  I haven't be diligent lately about doing it.

The last laugh

There are endless quotes about the satisfaction having the last laugh but I think it is far more important just to laugh.  One of my favorite sayings is right by my computer.  "She who laughs lasts"  Well yesterday I did get a very good laugh AND a bit of the satisfaction of the "last laugh" 

Many  years ago at our very first CQI retreat a few if us gathered at the house of the late Leslie Ehrlich in Windsor, Colorado for several days of stitching and fun.  As   hostess Leslie spent one of the days taking us around to various thread, fabric and bead shops. When we stopped at one bead shop I was taken by the little off beat shop next door.  It was an upscale consignment shop with a lot of unique items.  I opted out of going to the bead shop. 

I immediately fell in love with this large handcrafted belt buckle which had a spider...the universal good luck symbol of crazy quilters. It is about 3" across and heavy I bought it for $10 and charged next door to share my find only to be met with less than enthusiasm.  I could see this buckle as the clasp on the bag embellished with spiders and webs.  No one else shared my vision.

The buckle has languished in my drawer all these years but not far from the top of my "to do" lists.  Yesterday I was dressing for a Halloween party and put the buckle on a chain as an accessory to my witch costume.  One women was admiring it (she obviously had good taste) and asked if it were "signed".  I had never thought to check.  It was indeed signed... C. Tasha and was part of a limited edition.

 Upon checking once I got home I found that Carl Tasha was a sculptor and painter who lived much of his life on Cape Cod. He is most widely known for his sculpture and his  jewelry and belt buckles and worked mostly in brass and sterling silver.. He passed away in 2006 and his work has become highly collectible.  Many people have collected his work since the 1960s and the price range of his limited edition buckles runs from $125 to $250. Many are insects and animals and   flowers 
 as well.

The spider is one of the most popular animal symbols that are considered to be a sign of good luck by many cultures.

Throughout the history of crazy quilting spider webs have been used as embellishments on crazy quilts. During the Victorian era they were thought to bring good luck to the quilter; therefore, they became a necessary part of each crazy quilt. Although modern crazy quilters may not hold this same belief, spiders and spider webs are still a popular embellishment. (This is part of a RR piece I did for Janet Popish)

I rarely do a piece that does not contain a spider web somewhere in it.  And for more examples of spider webs in needle work check here. https://www.pinterest.com/cindy872/crazy-quilt-spider-webs/?lp=true

I even blogged about it in 2015 and bought some dyed laces to use with cats, spiders and flowers... Then my eyes took a turn for the worse and it sat shelved.  But how knowing about the history and value of the buckle has renewed my enthusiasm for doing this project.  If Cathy Kizarian still reads my blog she probably even remembers the shop and the purchase.

Twinkle toes....

 
 
As soon as Britain's PM Theresa May hit the political scene she became my shoe idol.. No matter how mundane and "grown up boring" her outfit is, she wears shoes that rock.. and of course is constantly criticized over them.. Most always flats or a sensible heel, she has a never ending supply...much to my delight...

I've always loved pretty shoes but always plagued with foot problems and all my shoes are chosen by comfort first but I want to change that .... a bit anyway.  I always have a pair of fun red shoes.. but I have my granddaughter's wedding coming up in the spring and I'd like a snazzy pair of shoes...... I mean really snazzy so I started surfing the internet.  I can remember in the 70s everyone was covering their shoes with fabric to match their outfits and there are Youtubes that show you how to do that...





There are directions for covering shoes with fabric or lace, directions on covering them with jewels, and for decoupage and painting.

I am thinking I could handle a very low heel and I am drawn to the shoes with the buckles.
I have good luck with finding new shoes at the thrift stores so if I start now I should be in good shape.





Like this one but with a sturdier heel.

More like this heel.



And I  REALLY love the absolute maximum of color like these below.. So one pair will sure to be painted or decoupage and maybe a second pair bejeweled.

In my dreams I would dance all night in these..............

But in reality these are probably more likely...